In today’s connected world, we take great care to protect ourselves from hackers and other threats to our cybersecurity. We protect our computers and our smartphones, but have you thought about your vehicle? The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) issued a report to select private companies saying that automakers were the leading targets for hackers in 2018.
A report by CNN, which obtained a copy from the FBI, states that “the automotive industry likely will face a wide range of cyber threats and malicious activity in the near future as the vast amount of data collected by Internet-connected vehicles and autonomous vehicles become a highly valued target for nation-state and financially motivated actors.” CNN further reported that an FBI spokesperson would not comment on details in the report, but noted that “in furtherance of public-private partnerships, the FBI routinely advises private industry of various cyber threat indicators observed during the course of our investigations.”
This is not a new threat but it is an increasing one. As early as 2015, Fiat-Chrysler issued a recall of 1.4 million vehicles due to software security issues. General Motors also had a recall on a software app just last year when it was brought to light that hackers could control some systems in the Chevrolet Volt.
The FBI report warns that automotive companies have been victim to ransomware attacks. It pointed out that one company paid the ransom, but the hacker never released the stolen data. Ransomware can be devastating to an individual or an organization. Anyone with important data stored on their computer or network is at risk, including government and law enforcement agencies, health care systems, or other critical infrastructure entities.
While wireless features are not new to today’s vehicles, the recent addition of Wi-Fi hot spots and satellite communications make these systems more vulnerable to cyberattacks. A report by Reuters states that the FBI bulletin T”warned that criminals could exploit online vehicle software updates by sending fake e-mail messages to vehicle owners who are looking to obtain legitimate software updates. Instead, the recipients could be tricked into clicking links to malicious websites or opening attachments containing malicious software.”
BYD has launched the third-generation Qin Plus DM-i in China, and the first thing that caught my eye is its price. According to CarNewsChina, the plug-in hybrid sedan starts at 79,900 yuan, which is about $11,980. That’s an incredibly low price for a brand-new car, especially by US standards.
What’s even more impressive is the range. The Qin Plus DM-i can drive up to 137 miles on electricity alone, which should cover most people’s daily commutes without using a drop of gas. Once the battery runs out, the 1.5-liter engine takes over. Thanks to its 17-gallon tank and roughly 91 mpg with a drained battery, the combined range reaches up to 1,423 miles.
Apple won the PC market’s worst quarter, but that’s not the entire story. It won the race by stumbling less than everyone else.
PC makers shipped just 57 million computers worldwide in Q3, which might look good, but it’s a 21% year-over-year plunge (via Counterpoint Research). And despite Apple’s Mac shipments falling by 11%, to 5.6 million, its market share rose from 8.7% to 9.8%. How did that happen?
Update (October 22 23:54 PT): In response to our query, GM clarified that offline recording support is already available on eligible vehicles. Like Tesla's Sentry Mode, it requires owners to connect a USB drive to save incident recordings, which can be viewed on the vehicle's infotainment screen. The upcoming Connected Cameras feature will build on this by giving owners remote access to these recordings via the revamped OnStar app, allowing them to check footage without walking out to their car.
General Motors has announced plans to add a new Connected Cameras feature to its OnStar service starting next year, giving drivers a way to monitor parked vehicles remotely and capture footage of certain incidents.